The following week, Randy was surprised to find the American Nightmare bus parked in the back lot of the arena.

Cody Rhodes, who had come to the WWE so long ago, who had spent time as Randy's brightest protégé, who had left WWE just to return years later as one of the biggest stars in the business, was a Raw Superstar. Right away, Randy suspected that whatever business Cody had at the blue brand had everything to do with Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns and his gigantic family, dubbed The Bloodline. At last year's WrestleMania, Cody had come close to ending Roman's record-breaking championship reign, but it had ultimately slipped through his fingers, in spite of his best efforts. Randy knew Cody well; he was as determined a man as Randy had ever met, just like his father Dusty Rhodes before him. Randy knew that in the ashes of failure, Cody was determined to rise like a phoenix and try again.

Cody Rhodes was determined to succeed.

With a shrug, Randy decided to stop in for a visit, knocking on the door with three loud pounds of his fist.

"Yeah?"

"It's Orton."

"Hey, man, come on in." Randy stepped back as the bus door opened. He stepped in, moving up a step so the door could close behind him. Dropping his shoulder bag on the floor at the top of the steps, Randy leaned down to give Cody's beautiful dog Pharaoh a scritch behind the ears. Randy looked over at Cody, seated at the table, dressed in a blue suit with a white button-down shirt and red tie, the blazer portion of his suit slung over the couch across from him.

"Hey," Cody greeted. Randy snorted.

"Hey, yourself. The fuck you doing here?" Randy quipped.

"Declaring for the Rumble."

"You couldn't do that over on your own brand?"

Cody shrugged. "Can't send a message to Roman from all the way over there."

"I guess," Randy retorted. He slid into the seat across from Cody, shifting and adjusting until he was comfortable. He leaned forward, his gigantic forearms resting on the tabletop.

Silence followed. Cody carefully scrutinized his one-time mentor and longtime friend. Of course he'd heard the rumblings over the past week, had seen the press release and the Hall of Fame package about Selena Sky. He'd heard all the chatter about Randy not being interviewed for the vignette, and the speculation of what exactly that meant. He'd even read some of the guesses the fans had, the things they'd written in forums and in the dirt-sheets. Sitting across the table from his good friend and one-time mentor, Cody could see that Randy had obviously seen and heard everything as well, and it was bothering him far more than he was willing to admit.

Despite what Randy wanted people to believe about him, Cody thought he was an easy man to read. He'd always been moody and sullen, always kept his cards close. He didn't need to say it out loud for Cody to know that Selena Sky's name re-entering the conversation had rattled him. Why it rattled him was the million-dollar question.

"So…what do you wanna talk about?" Cody asked. Randy rolled his eyes as he sat back. He threw his hands up slightly.

"Nothing, man. Saw the bus and thought I'd say hello."

Silence fell between them again. After a few long moments Cody leaned forward, his forearms on the tabletop. He made a face as he nodded, as if something he'd seen in Randy's eyes or on his face confirmed whatever suspicions he'd been holding since Randy walked into the bus.

"Call me crazy, but I think you're dying to talk about last week's announcement."

"What? No…" Randy made a dismissive noise as he shifted, making himself more comfortable. Randy shook his head. "Why the hell would I want to talk about that?"

"Randy, I'm surprised at you. You're normally a better liar than this," Cody admonished playfully. Randy gave him the finger. Cody couldn't hide how amused he was. "I don't know what exactly happened between you and Selena, but everyone's been talking…"

"I know. It's fucking stupid."

"What happened between the two of you anyway? I don't really remember. Just that she had the accident, and then…"

"It's not important," Randy cut in. Cody scoffed as he sat back in his chair, hands raised.

"It's obviously still important to you," he pointed out. "Have you spoken to her at all since she left?"

"No. Why would I?"

"I don't know. I'm just asking. Jesus, Randy, the last person you need to be defensive with is me. You know that."

Randy let out an exasperated grunt. Cody was right, of course. The two of them had a long and storied history with each other, as mentors and enemies, a deep and lasting friendship forged through those fires. Randy knew that Cody was just trying to help; it was second nature of Cody to help others. Looking out the window, at the cars parked in the lot, Randy let out a long sigh after several moments. "I didn't see the point of staying in touch."

"There's more to things than that," Cody told him. "Because whatever happened, you clearly feel like it's about to come back and bite you in the ass."

"Didn't realize things were that obvious," Randy grumbled. He watched a group of people dressed in black sprint towards the arena doors, dragging bags behind them.

"I'm not going to judge you, Randy. I'm not gonna say anything to anyone, either, if that's what you're worried about."

"With you? Never." Randy kept his gaze out the window as he contemplated just what he wanted to say. It took him a few long moments to come to the conclusion that it wasn't going to hurt to tell someone he trusted about what he was struggling with. He knew if there was anyone he could trust and look to for good advice, it was Cody.

"Randy…"

"The last time I talked to Sky, she was getting ready to head out to that convention. That's probably the last time I saw her, too. I didn't see her at the hospital after…"

"Really?" Cody blurted. He couldn't keep the incredulity out of his voice. It came out too quickly for Cody to catch himself. It wasn't his intention to sound judgmental; he just hadn't expected that revelation. A lot of years had passed since Selena's accident, so Cody had to stop and think. Some details surrounding the whole situation was hazy, and there were some things he could remember crystal clear.

Thinking about it, Cody realized he didn't remember just when Randy had quit talking about Selena, or even when he'd announced that they'd split.

"Sorry," Cody quickly corrected himself. "I just thought…"

"I know. I knew saying something right away was going to make me look like an asshole, for obvious reasons. So I held off on saying anything. Just…let some time pass."

"So, let me get this straight — you're telling me that you just…left her…you broke up with her while she was in a medically induced coma, and you didn't even tell her?" Cody shook his head. He took in the defensive look on Randy's face and he raised his hands in surrender. "Calm down, Randy. I'm not trying to judge. I'm just trying to put some pieces together, okay? Just…never mind…"

"Oh, no. Don't fucking do that. Spit it out."

"Nothing! I just…I see why you feel you've got an impending situation on your hands." Cody's body sagged in his seat. He let out a low whistle. "I can't imagine how confused she had to be, waking up with a broken body in the hospital and you just…vanishing into thin air."

"Ugh. You make me sound like a prick when you say it like that," Randy grumbled. Cody shot him a look and Randy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I fucking know, man. I'm a fucking dick, and I'm about to reap what I sow, and all that other philosophical bullshit." Randy leaned forward. "I don't expect you to understand why I did what I did, Cody, but I had my reasons back then…"

"Shane."

Randy reared back, recoiling as if he'd heard a gunshot. Cody nodded, another suspicion confirmed.

"I remember some things from that period really well, Randy. Selena talked to me a lot back then."

"What?" It was Randy's turn to be surprised. His eyes narrowed. "You never said anything…"

"She asked me not to. And she was my friend back then, just like you are, so I respected her wishes."

"What did she tell you?"

"Nothing salacious, if that's what you're concerned about. You and Shane were having issues, and she felt caught in the middle between the two of you. I remember once she told me that she didn't want to take sides between you both, but you took that as her taking his side. That hurt her deeply."

Randy let out a surprised noise as his brain struggled to comprehend Cody's revelation. "Fucking…really, Cody?"

"What do you want me to say, Randy? I really don't think she was telling me anything she wasn't telling you."

There was a long pause. Randy's glare faltered. "I really want to argue that with you, but I know you're right." He sighed. "Sky never was afraid to tell me where to go and how to get there."

"You really didn't give her the courtesy of telling her it was over?"

"I didn't. I couldn't." Randy sighed. "I should go. I've probably talked too much."

"And you really never tried to reach out to her?"

"I mean, I thought about it over the years, but I can't find her anywhere. No socials. Old email address goes nowhere. Old number is out of service. After everything that's happened, I know Shane would never let the office give me her number."

"You're probably right about that. He always was protective of her. Still is."

"I know."

Randy stood. Cody did the same.

"It was a terrible thing you did to her, Randy, but you were a different person in those days. We all were. Her, too. Who knows? Maybe this could be the opportunity you both need to get some closure. You know, bury the hatchet."

Randy scoffed. "Bury the hatchet? Yeah, she'll do that, all right. She'll bury it right in my fucking forehead."

Cody shrugged. "I don't want to sound like a dick, Randy, but that's the cross you're going to have to bear."

Randy nodded. He hated to hear it, hated to admit it, but he knew that Cody was right. He'd created this situation, and he'd spent over a decade not having to face it. He'd spent so long without ramifications that he'd accepted he'd never have to face the music.

The two men slapped hands. "Good luck with whatever the hell it is you're doing here tonight," Randy told him with a derisive snort. "Just so you're aware, I'm going after his title, too."

"I know. You, me, and twenty-eight other men. That's the Road to WrestleMania for you."

"Fair point." Randy moved towards the bus entrance, giving Pharaoh another scritch before he picked up his bag. "I'll catch you later."

"Yeah. Sure thing. And hey…if you need to talk, I'm around. Doesn't have to be about…this, either. I know you're dealing with a lot right now."

Randy sighed, his shoulders sloping. "It feels like I spend more time arguing with lawyers than anything else."

Cody nodded, his expression appropriately sympathetic. "Just…take care of yourself, okay? If you're going to come for the title when I win it, I want you at a hundred percent."

"You, too."

With that, Randy let himself off the bus. Cody leaned against the kitchenette area, his arms crossed over his chest as he released a sigh. He'd wanted to ask Randy back then about what had happened between him and Selena, but it had felt like an unwritten rule to never say her name in his presence. If he'd felt any degree of hurt in those days after ending things, Cody could never tell. Randy had thrown himself into his work for a few months, and then out of the blue he'd gotten married to Ex-Wife Number One in a spontaneous Vegas wedding. Cody hadn't known what to think back then. He'd liked Selena. She'd always been kind to him. The revelation that Randy had effectively ghosted and abandoned her shocked him. He loved Randy like a brother, but he couldn't defend that. Selena had deserved better than that.

Selena Sky was a ghost he thought would stay buried. His mentor should have known better. In Cody's experience, anything that disappeared in pro wrestling never truly stayed gone.